CAMPAIGNERS who defaced one of North Yorkshire's most prominent landmarks today told the Evening Press how and why they took the controversial action.

A spokesman for the shadowy organisation, which styles itself the Real Countryside Alliance (RCA), has taken responsibility for constructing the 160ft seated figure of a horseman on the famous White Horse of Kilburn.

The anonymous spokesman said the work was part of its ongoing protest against a proposed ban on hunting with hounds.

Other actions widely ascribed to the splinter group include the daubing of anti-hunt-ban signs on road surfaces and signs around the county.

Although the Liberty And Livelihood march through London is planned for Sunday, September 22, and representatives from the Countryside Alliance are in talks with ministers, the RCAs say more needs to be done.

The spokesman said: "It seems the Government will not listen to what we have to say. Putting the huntsman on the horse was another publicity stunt - at least it keeps the issue in the news."

The protester admitted making the figure had been a huge effort.

"The carpet was 160ft by 40ft and it was all stitched together," he said.

"We used 15 gallons of red paint on to the plastic backing of a beige carpet, which just shows the commitment we have, with the amount of time it took us to make."

The figure was removed from the Kilburn landmark within 24 hours of its appearance by members of the White Horse committee, volunteers who look after the monument.

Committee secretary John Roberts said they had to cut the carpet figure into pieces to pull it off the hillside.

He admitted that the model was the most impressive that had ever appeared at the white horse.

He said: "Until I went up there I did not realise the scale - it's the best I have seen. We have taken it off and the whole thing is over and done with as far as I am concerned.

"The damage is not too great, but the fact that people have walked all over the horse does help speed up the deterioration of the horse, that's the irritating thing."

He said an anonymous donor had left an undisclosed amount of money for the committee the day the huntsman appeared.

An RCA spokesman confirmed they had given the committee the money.

He said: "We would have moved it for them, given half a chance. We had plans to cut it carefully and take it off by rolling it down the hill."

Figures of a huntsman and three hounds which appeared the same night on the ancient Uffington Horse, in Oxfordshire, would wash off in the rain, said the RCA.

Updated: 12:10 Thursday, August 29, 2002